Subjects
Grade
Brief Description
Students work in small groups to record how many pets each has, then
use calculators to find the total number of pets owned by students in
the entire group.
Objectives
Students will
- practice basic addition skills on a worksheet and with a calculator.
- practice calculator skills.
- practice computer skills.
Keywords
calculators, mathematics
Materials Needed
- Student access to a calculators on a computer (or an actual calculator).
- Calculator worksheet (downloadable).
- Projector or TV monitor for demonstration.
Lesson Plan
Preparation
- Print a copy of the downloadable worksheet for each student. The lesson
assumes basic addition skills (adding to 20). Set up projector or TV
monitor.
- Open the calculator on student computers (if using a computer calculator).
On a PC, you'll find the calculator by clicking Start>All Programs (or
Programs)>Accessories>Calculator. On a Mac, open the hard drive icon,
click Applications>Calculator. If using Macs running OS 10, when you
find the calculator icon in the Applications folder, just drag it to
the Dock -- or move it to the Launcher in earlier OS versions
Introduction
- Introduce the lesson by displaying a calculator and asking students
what it is. After the class identifies it and discusses what it is used
for, show students a calculator on a computer. Explain that both calculators
do the same thing -- quickly add, subtract, and perform other calculations
with numbers, especially very large numbers.
- Explain to students that they will use a calculator to find out how
many pets and what kinds of pets they own.
Process
- Arrange students into groups of 4.
- Distribute to each student a copy of the "How
Many Pets?" worksheet. The worksheet requires students to write
down the number of pets each member of the group owns, and shade in
the calculator keys they would press to find the total number of pets
owned by students in the entire group. Students then use a working calculator
to find the sum.
- Walk students through the activity, perhaps using one group as an
example. Be sure to show students how to shade in the calculator's buttons
with their pencils, and remind them to press the plus and equals signs
on the actual calculators to find the sum.
- Students should complete at least the first steps of the worksheet
in a single sitting. You can opt to complete steps 4-6 at another time.
- Have students should turn in their worksheets at the end of the activity.
Extension
- Have students use their calculators to find the total number of pets
owned by the entire class.
- Use the data collected to create basic graphs in Excel. Have students
color in printed spreadsheets or watch as you create a basic graph.
See
Create Graphs and Charts with Excel if you are a beginning Excel
user.
Assessment
Students will be evaluated on
- successful completion of the worksheet.
- observed work with the calculator.
- observed small group interaction.
Lesson Plan Source
Education World
Submitted By
Lorrie Jackson
National Standards
MATHEMATICS: Number and Operations
GRADES Pre-K - 2
NM-NUM.PK-2.1 Understand Numbers, Ways of Representing Numbers, Relationships Among Numbers, and Number Systems
NM-NUM.PK-2.2 Understand Meanings of Operations and How They Relate to One Another
MATHEMATICS: Problem Solving
GRADES Pre-K - 12
NM-PROB.PK-12.1 Build New Mathematical Knowledge Through Problem Solving
Education World®
Copyright © 2005 Education World
01/12/2005
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